By Pastor Bruce K. Oyen
Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com
Some Thoughts About The Bible
One of the greatest blessings God has given to the world is the Holy Bible. The word "Bible" means "book." So, we are referring to "the Holy Book" when we refer to "the Holy Bible."
This Book is holy because its ultimate author, God, is holy (see Isaiah 6 for an affirmation of God's holiness). It is a holy book, also, because what we read in it challenges us to be holy in thought, word, and deed. (See 1 Peter 2:15,16 for an example of this challenge to be holy.)
The Bible's writers refer to it by different names. Here are a few of them: "the holy Scriptures" ( 2 Timothy 3:15), "the Word of truth" ( James 1:18), "the Word" (James 1:21 - 23), "the oracles of God" (Romans 3:2), "the Scriptures of the prophets" (Romans 16:26), and "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).
There several places in the Bible that give us important descriptions of its contents, and which tell us of the blessings that come to those who apply its truths to themselves. A few of those places are these: Psalm 1, Psalm 19, Psalm 119, and 2 Timothy 3:14 - 17.
To give an idea of how rich the Bible is in content, here (in red) is a quote of 2 Timothy 3:14 - 17 from the New King James Version: "14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Consider just a few points about the Scriptures from these verses Paul wrote to fellow-preacher, Timothy: 1) He had known them from childhood. What a privilege it was for him to have learned them at an early age from a mother and grandmother who knew their great value (See 2 Timothy 1:4 and 5). Oh, for more such parents and grandparents! 2) The Scriptures are able to make us wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 3) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. That is, it is of divine origin. 4) The Bible is profitable for the things stated by Paul, and profitable for other things stated elsewhere in its pages. It is a bottomless well of truth. It is an ocean of comfort. It is It is an infallible guide for this life. It is divine revelation of the life to come. Therefore, read it completely, read it again, and then read it some more!
What Theologian John L. Dagg Said About The Bible
Dagg was an influential Baptist theologian in the 1800's. Among his writings were his books "Manual Of Theology," and "Manual Of Church Order." The following quote (in red) is taken from his "Manual Of Theology." This quote was obtained from this website: http://www.reformedreader.org/rbb/dagg/mottoc.htm.
"A full conviction that the Bible is the word of God, is necessary to give us confidence in its teachings, and with respect for its decisions. With this conviction pervading the mind when we read the sacred pages, we realize that God is speaking to us, and when we feel the truth take hold of our hearts, we know that it is God which whom we have to do. When we study its precepts, all our powers bow to them, as the undoubted will of our sovereign Lord; and when we are cheered and sustained by its consolations, we receive them as blessings poured down from the eternal throne. Nature and science offer no light that can guide us in our search for immortal bliss; but God has given us the Bible, as a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. Let us receive the gift with gratitude and commit ourselves to its guidance."
Three Important Rules For interpreting The Bible, By Charles Hodge
Now that we have considered some thoughts about the Bible, we need some guidance in interpreting it. The following helpful rules for interpreting the Bible are by Presbyterian theologian Charles Hodge, who lived in the 1800's. They are taken from volume 1 of his 3-volume systematic theology. This quote (in red) was taken from this website: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/hodge/theology1.toc.html
"§ 6. Rules of interpretation.
If every man has the right, and is bound to read the Scriptures, and to judge for himself what they teach, he must have certain rules to guide him in the exercise of this privilege and duty. These rules are not arbitrary. They are not imposed by human authority. They have no binding force which does not flow from their own intrinsic truth and propriety. They are few and simple.
1. The words of Scripture are to be taken in their plain historical sense. That is, they must be taken in the sense attached to them in the age and by the people to whom they were addressed. This only assumes that the sacred writers were honest, and meant to be understood.
2. If the Scriptures be what they claim to be, the word of God, they are the work of one mind, and that mind divine. From this it follows that Scripture cannot contradict Scripture. God cannot teach in one place anything which is inconsistent with what He teaches in another. Hence Scripture must explain Scripture. If a passage admits of different interpretations, that only can be the true one which agrees with what the Bible teaches elsewhere on the same subject. If the Scriptures teach that the Son is the same in substance and equal in power and glory with the Father, then when the Son says, “The Father is greater than I,” the superiority must be understood in a manner consistent with this equality. It must refer either to subordination as to the mode of subsistence and operation, or it must be official. A king’s son may say, “My father is greater than I,” although personally his father’s equal. This rule of interpretation is sometimes called the analogy of Scripture, and sometimes the analogy of faith. There is no material difference in the meaning of the two expressions.
3. The Scriptures are to be interpreted under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which guidance is to be humbly and earnestly sought. The ground of this rule is twofold: First, the Spirit is 188 promised as a guide and teacher. He was to come to lead the people of God into the knowledge of the truth. And secondly, the Scriptures teach, that “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. ii. 14.) The unrenewed mind is naturally blind to spiritual truth. His heart is in opposition to the things of God. Congeniality of mind is necessary to the proper apprehension of divine things. As only those who have a moral nature can discern moral truth, so those only who are spiritually minded can truly receive the things of the Spirit.
The fact that all the true people of God in every age and in every part of the Church, in the exercise of their private judgment, in accordance with the simple rules above stated, agree as to the meaning of Scripture in all things necessary either in faith or practice, is a decisive proof of the perspicuity of the Bible, and of the safety of allowing the people the enjoyment of the divine right of private judgment."
Books For Studying And Interpreting The Bible.
There are many books in print that can help us study and interpret the Bible. Here are two of my favorites: R. A. Torrey's short book is called "How To Study The Bible For The Greatest Profit." What follows is a link to one source for Torrey's book. The link will enable you to look over the book's table of contents. Here is the link: http://www.christianbook.com/how-to-study-the-bible/r-a-torrey/9780883681640/pd/83865?item_code=WW&netp_id=187557&event=ESRCG&view=details
Mal Couch's much-longer book is called "An Introduction To Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics." What follows is a link to one source for Couch's book. The link will enable you to look over the book's table of contents. Here is the link: http://www.christianbook.com/an-introduction-to-classical-evangelical-hermeneutics/mal-couch/9780825423673/pd/43678?product_redirect=1&Ntt=43678&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP
All Bible quotes in this posting are from the New King James Version, and were taken from this website: www.biblegateway.com. "Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
The only exceptions are when I quote authors who might quote from other Bible translations.
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